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Jonathan W. Blodgett

District Attorney

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(978) 745-6610

For Immediate Release - January 12, 2010

Man Who Rammed Cruiser Pleads Not Guilty To Drug And Assault Charges

Abraham Halprin, 29, of 23 Atlantic Street, Lynn, pleaded not guilty today in Lynn District Court to charges stemming from an undercover drug bust, and a subsequent assault on a police officer yesterday afternoon on Lewis Street in Lynn.

Judge Michael Lauranzano ordered Halprin held on $150,000 cash bail and continued his case until February 11 for a probable cause hearing.

Halprin is charged with distributing Class A heroin, subsequent offense, a school zone drug distribution violation, resisting arrest, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, assault with a dangerous weapon, assault and battery on a police officer, and related motor vehicle charges.

Essex Assistant District Attorney Emily Tarr told the court that yesterday at about 4:23 p.m., Halprin met with an undercover state police officer and allegedly sold him heroin. When the deal was completed, the undercover officer went back to his motor vehicle and signaled to nearby officers that the transaction had taken place.

When officers moved in to arrest Halprin, he put his Ford Escape vehicle in reverse and slammed into the undercover officer's car. The officer suffered facial injuries and broken teeth. At that point, fearing for the safety of his fellow officers and nearby civilians, a state trooper fired one shot through the windshield of Halprin's vehicle, which lodged in the dashboard. The defendant immediately surrendered to police.

The injured officer was treated at Lynn Union Hospital and released last night.

If convicted of heroin distribution, a subsequent offense, Halprin faces up to 20 years in state prison, with a minimum mandatory sentence of seven years. Assault and battery with a dangerous weapon carries up to 10 years in state prison.